| Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Agrotis exclamationis (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Heart and Dart French name: Double tache, Point d'exclamation. Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Noctuidae Subfamily: Noctuinae Wingspan: 32 to 40 mm. Biotope: Woodland edges, meadows, cultivated fields, parks and gardens. Geographic area: All Europe except extreme north. Flight time: May to October. Number of generations : 1 or 2. Moths of the second brood are smaller and paler. Caterpillar: Reddish brown with pale dorsal lines and a row of black spots on the sides of the body. Host plant: Many low growing wild or cultivated plants. |
The Heart and Dart moth has a typical black band across the front of the thorax, just behind the head. You can particularly see this band on a front view. The wings are pale brown to greyish brown with a pale fringe. A dark black elongated mark, in the centre of the wing, followed by another dark mark remember the shape of an exclamation point. The Heart and Dart is attracted to light. The Heart and Dart caterpillar is considered as a pest because of the damaged caused to the cultivated plants. The caterpillar over winters in the soil. |
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I have found this moth landed down on the terrace. It was probably attracted to light. |
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You can clearly see the dark band behind the head on this picture. |
André Bon May 2009